I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa and affiliated with the Water Sustainability Initiative of the University of Iowa. I earned my Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Colorado in 2015. Before attending graduate school, I taught English in Sichuan, China and spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Georgia (2005-2007).

My primary research interest is in distributive politics and public goods provision in developing countries. My recent project focuses on drinking water provision in rural China. I explore both government investment in drinking water provision and local community actions to coordinate water management. I also study ethnic politics in China and have conducted research on the role of ethnic identity in government provision of public goods and political action by ethnic minorities. In other work, I examine the drivers of adaptation and adoption of measures to reduce the effects of weather and climate related events.

For more information on my ongoing research projects and publications, please visit my research page. Most of my fieldwork takes place in rural Guizhou Province, in southwest China. I spent 10 months there conducting fieldwork with the support of a Fulbright grant. For ongoing research, I collaborate with colleagues from the Guizhou Normal University Karst Research Institute. More details about Guizhou are posted on my fieldwork page. Please contact me if you are interested in my work.

CONTACT

Email: Elise-Pizzi@UIowa.edu

University of IowaDepartment of Political Science341 Schaeffer HallIowa City, IA 52242-1409